Flower doll

ABSTRACT

A flower doll includes a body including a doll portion and a flower portion opposite the doll portion, the doll portion including two arms and a head, the flower portion including a plurality of petals, a reinforcing wire that is disposed within the body and that runs along a portion of a torso of the body and along a length of each of the arms, and a band or sleeve coupled to the body between the doll portion and the flower portion where the band or sleeve can be configured to substantially cover and surround the doll portion of the flower doll to conceal the doll portion substantially within an interior portion of the band or sleeve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/043,226, filed on Aug. 28, 2014, U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 62/019,825, filed Jul. 1, 2014, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/008,591, filed on Jun. 6, 2014, which areincorporated by reference

TECHNICAL FIELD

This specification generally relates to a toy, in particular a flowerdoll.

BACKGROUND

A doll is commonly used as a toy. Dolls may also be used as collector'sitems for some adults.

SUMMARY

In a general aspect, a flower doll includes a body including a dollportion and a flower portion opposite the doll portion, the doll portionincluding two arms and a head, the flower portion including a pluralityof petals, a reinforcing wire that is disposed within the body and thatruns along a portion of a torso of the body and along a length of eachof the arms, and a band or sleeve coupled to the body between the dollportion and the flower portion where the band or sleeve can beconfigured to substantially cover and surround the doll portion of theflower doll to conceal the doll portion substantially within an interiorportion of the band or sleeve.

Implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the followingfeatures. For example, the plurality of petals of the flower has varyingsizes. The flower portion is configured to support the doll portion in asubstantially upright position on a flat surface. A stand is includedand is configured to support the flower portion or the doll portion in asubstantially upright position on a flat surface.

Implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the followingfeatures. For example, the flower portion has a first end and a secondend and a plurality of petals disposed between the first end and thesecond end. The size of the plurality of petals increases from the firstend to the second end. The band or sleeve is an elastic band or sleevethat is stretchable to substantially cover and surround the doll portionof the flower doll.

Implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the followingfeatures. For example, the reinforcing wire is crossed shaped. The crossshape is formed by wrapping a first length and a second length of thereinforcing wire around each other. The cross shape is formed when afirst length is snapped into a recess at the midpoint of a secondlength. The flower portion is composed of plush material. The flowerportion is composed of felt fabric. The doll portion is composed ofplastic. The doll portion is composed of plush material.

In a general aspect, a flower doll includes a doll portion including twoarms, a head, and a first end opposite the head, a flower portionincluding a first end with a plurality of flowers and a second endopposite the first end, where the first end of the doll portion isremovably coupled to the second end of the flower portion, and a sleevecoupled to the first end of the doll portion, where the sleeve can beconfigured to substantially cover and surround the doll portion of theflower doll.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a doll portion of a flower doll.

FIG. 2 shows the doll portion of the flower doll and a flower portion ofthe flower doll opposite the doll portion.

FIGS. 2-6 show a band/sleeve disposed at the midsection of the flowerdoll and between the flower portion and the doll portion of the flowerdoll.

FIGS. 6-8 show the band/sleeve in use substantially covering the dollportion of the flower doll.

FIG. 9 shows the flower portion of the flower doll supported on a flatsurface by a stand.

FIGS. 10-11 show a stand for use in supporting the flower doll.

FIGS. 12-13 show the connections between the doll portion and flowerportion of the flower doll.

FIG. 14A shows the band/sleeve in use substantially covering the dollportion of the flower doll.

FIG. 14B shows a snap-fit type connection between the doll portion andthe flower portion of the flower doll.

FIGS. 15-17 show a cross shaped reinforcing wire.

FIGS. 18A-18B shows a screw type connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a flower doll. A user can convertthe flower doll from a doll implementation to a flower implementation byflipping the flower doll and using a retractable band or sleeve disposedbetween the flower portion and the doll portion to cover and surroundsubstantially the doll portion of the flower doll. The flower doll maybe able to stand upright on a flat surface on its own, or a stand may beprovided and used to support and/or hold the flower doll in asubstantially upright position on a flat surface in either the dollimplementation or the flower implementation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flower doll 100 includes a dollportion 102 and a flower portion 112. The doll portion 102 includes ahead 104, a torso or body 105, two hands 106, and hair 108. The flowerportion 112 includes a plurality of petals 114 and a plurality of leaves116. The flower doll 100 also includes a skirt portion 110(a) of a dress110. In some implementations, the flower portion 112 may include aplurality of flowers. In these implementations, the flower portion 112may include four flowers, six flowers, twelve flowers, or any number offlowers. The plurality of flowers of the flower portion 112 may includeone or more different types of flowers. For example, the plurality offlowers of the flower portion 112 may include rose flowers and carnationflowers. The dress 110 is detachably mounted to the torso or bodyportion 105 of the flower doll 100. The skirt portion 110(a) of thedress 110 facilitates the conversion of the flower doll 100 from thedoll portion 102 to the flower portion 112 when the skirt portion 110(a)is moved to cover either doll portion 102 of the flower doll 100 or theflower portion 112 of the flower doll 100. The flower doll 100 furtherincludes a retractable band or sleeve 202 that is coupled to the body105 of the flower doll 100 between the doll portion 102 and the flowerportion 112.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the skirt portion 110(a) of the dress 110 coversthe flower portion 112 of the flower doll 100 when the doll portion 102is in the upright position as shown. When the doll portion 102 is in theupright position, the doll portion 102 may be supported on a surface,such as a table or other substantially flat surface, by the flowerportion 112, as shown for example in FIG. 2. In some implementations,the doll portion 102 may be supported in an upright position by a stand,an example of which is shown by stand 1002, 1004 in FIGS. 10-11. Thestand 1002, 1004 may add stability to ensure the doll portion 102 canremain in an upright position for extended periods of time, for example,when the flower doll 100 is on display in a store or in someone's home.As illustrated in FIG. 1, the doll portion 102 of the flower doll 100may be adorned with a dress 110. The flower doll 100 may include severaldifferent dresses that a user can use at different times and/orinterchangeably. Accordingly, the dress 110 may be removably attached tothe flower doll 100. The different dresses may each be designed with atheme, for example, a Christmas themed dress, a Valentine's Day themeddress, a St. Patrick's Day themed dress, or any other suitable themeddress. The dress 110 may be a single layer of fabric of the dress mayinclude multiple layers of fabric.

The doll portion 102 and the flower portion 112 of the flower doll 100can also be incorporated into other creative works such as books,movies, or any other suitable products. In some implementations, theface of the doll portion 102 of the flower doll 100 may beindividualized by a user. For example, the user may submit a photo inthe likeness of the user to be used to personalize the face of the dollportion 102 of the flower doll 100. The user can also design a face,such as a cartoon character or the like, to be implemented on the faceof the doll portion 112 of the flower doll 100.

In some implementations, the flower doll 100 may also contain anelectronic chip used to identify the particular flower doll 100. Forexample, the flower doll 100 may include an identification number, aserial number or any other suitable identifying element and thatidentifying element may be stored on the electronic chip. Theidentifying element can be used for identifying the user on a websitethat contains stories about the flower doll 100. An electronicidentification chip may be included with the flower doll 100 toassociate the particular flower doll 100 with an interactive website.There may also be interactive books that are associated with the flowerdoll 100, and/or other interactive media to additionally promote theenjoyment or usability of the flower doll 100.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the doll portion 102 may be supported by theflower portion 112 on a surface. For example, the plurality of petals114 and the plurality of leaves 116 of the flower portion 112 of theflower doll 100 provide support to the doll portion 102 to enable thedoll portion 102 to be free standing. The plurality of leaves 116 andthe plurality of petals 114 of the flower portion 112 may be arranged ina conical shape as shown in FIG. 1, which provides a wider base at theintersection of the surface providing additional support for the flowerportion 112 in the standing position.

In some implementations the flower portion 112 and the doll portion 102of the flower doll may be made of a plastic material. In someimplementations, the flower portion 112 and the doll portion 102 of theflower doll may be made of a plush material, fabric, felt, or any othersuitable material. In some implementations, the flower doll 100 mayinclude a structural reinforcing wire (e.g., wire 500 shown in FIGS. 12and 13) that is disposed within the body or torso 105 of the flower doll100. In some examples, the wire may run along torso of the flower doll100 and along the length of each of the arms 106 of the flower doll 100.In these examples, the reinforcing wire may be in a cross shape, with afirst length of the wire running through the body or torso 105 of theflower doll 100 and a second length of the wire, substantiallyperpendicular or transverse to the first length of wire, running along aportion of each of the arms 106 of the flower doll 100. The reinforcingwire may add additional support to the flower doll 100 to enable thedoll portion 102 to be free standing and to permit the arms 106 of theflower doll 100 to be positioned in multiple configurations. Thereinforcing wire also allows the torso 105 and the arms 106 of the dollportion of the flower doll 100 to be flexible. In some implementations,the reinforcing wire may be made of metal, or any other suitablemalleable material. In other implementations, the reinforcing wire maybe made of plastic.

Referring to FIGS. 15-16, the wire 500 may be used as the structuralframe for the formation of the flower portion 112. The first length ofthe reinforcing wire 500 a may run along the torso of the doll portionand end in a loop 1502 at the flower portion. The flower portion may beformed as each petal of the flower is added along the wire 500 a andcollected near the loop 1502. The petals at the base of the first lengthof the reinforcing wire 500 a may be arranged in the shape of a flower,for example, a rose. The second length of the reinforcing wire 500 b mayrun through each arm of the doll portion 102. The first length 500 a andthe second length 500 b of the reinforcing wire may be connected in across shape. In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 15, thesecond length 500 b may be wrapped around the first length 500 a in acounterclockwise direction and then the first length of the wire 500 amay be wrapped around the second length of the wire 500 b from top tobottom to form the cross shape. In some implementations, as illustratedin FIG. 17, the second length of the wire 500 b may have a recess 1702that is complementary to the width of the first length of the wire 500a. The first length of the wire 500 a may fit into the recess 1702 toform the cross shaped wire. The doll portion 102 of the flower doll maybe manufactured with the cross shaped reinforcing wire 500 as thestructural frame. In some implementations, the cross shaped reinforcingwire may be formed from metal, or plastic, or any other suitablematerial.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the doll portion 102 and the flowerportion 112 of the flower doll 100 may be joined together at the torsoor body section 105. In some implementations, the flower portion 112 ofthe flower doll 100 may be a pre-manufactured flower portion that has afemale connector portion 301. The doll portion 102 may be joined to theflower portion 112 when the structural wire 500 that runs through thedoll portion 102 is coupled to the female connector portion 301 of theflower portion 112. In some examples, the structural wire 500 may have afemale connector portion disposed at one end that connects to a maleconnector portion of the flower portion 112 as shown in FIG. 13. Themale and female connectors may be glued or otherwise fastened togetherto ensure that the flower portion 112 and doll portion 102 of the flowerdoll 100 are securely fastened together. In some implementations, theflower portion 112 and doll portion 102 may be removably connected,using for example, snap-fit connectors, or other suitable connectingelements.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, the flower portion 112 and the dollportion 102 of the flower doll may be joined together at a first endopposite the head of the doll portion and a second end of the flowerportion. In some implementations, the connecting element between theflower portion 112 and the doll portion 102 may be a snap-fit typeconnector. In some implementations, the snap-fit type connector may bemetal, or any other suitable material. As illustrated, the second end1406 of the flower portion 112 may include a female end 1402 of thesnap-fit type connector. The first end 1408 of the doll portion 102 mayinclude a male end 1404 of the snap-fit type connector. The male end1404 of the snap-fit connector may be complementary to the female end1402. A user may snap the male end 1404 into the female end 102 of thesnap-fit type connector to join the flower portion 112 to the dollportion 102. In some implementations, the doll portion 102 may includethe female end of the snap-fit type connector and the flower portion 112may include the male end. In some implementations, the connectingelement between the flower portion 112 and the doll portion 102 may be aball and socket type connector. In these implementations, the dollportion 102 may include the ball end of the connector and the flowerportion 112 may include the socket end of the connector. The flowerportion 102 may be rotatable along the connector axis. In someimplementations, the connector may be a button like connection. In someimplementations, the connecting element between the flower portion 112and the doll portion 102 may be a screw type connector. As illustratedin FIGS. 18A and 18B, the end of the flower portion 112 may be recessedand ribbed 1802 to allow the complementary end 1804 of the doll portion102 to screw into the flower portion. In other implementations, theconnecting element between the flower portion 112 and the doll portion102 may be a truck trailer hitch type connector. In otherimplementations, the doll portion and the flower portion may be coupledtogether using an adhesive, hook and loop fastener, or other suitableconnection means. The retractable band/sleeve 202 coupled to themidsection of the flower doll 100 may also cover the connection point ofthe doll portion 102 and flower portion 112.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-8, the retractable band or sleeve 202 that iscoupled to the midsection of the flower doll 100 between the dollportion 102 and the flower portion 112 can be pulled over the flowerportion 112 to substantially surround and cover the flower portion 112.In order to convert the flower doll 100 from the doll implementationillustrated in FIG. 1 to the flower implementation as illustrated inFIG. 9, a user may pull the band 202 over the flower portion 112 of theflower doll. The band 202 may be used to surround the plurality ofpetals 114 and the plurality of leaves 116 of the flower portion 112. Insome implementations, the retractable band 202 can be made from elastic,or any stretchable material, including fabrics, elastomers or otherflexible materials. In these implementations, the band 202 may compressthe flower portion 112 as it is pulled around and over substantially allof the flower portion 112. FIG. 8 illustrates the flower doll 100 in aflipped position with doll portion 102 of the flower doll 100 surroundedand enclosed within the retractable band 202, and the flower portion 112being held upright. In the flower implementation, as illustrated in FIG.9, the flower doll 100 may be held in an upright position by a metalstand 1002, 1004 (also illustrated in FIG. 10). The plurality of leaves116 of the flower portion of the flower doll 100 may cascade down thesides of the doll portion within the band 202. In some implementations,the plurality of leaves 116 of the flower portion 112 may be big enoughto conceal the surrounded doll portion or reach to a point just abovethe platform or table upon which the flower doll 100 is supported. Thestand 1002, 1004 may be used to hold the flower doll 100 in an uprightposition. The stand 1002, 1004 may include two metal parts 1002 and 1004that are removably coupled together. For example, the stand includes awire frame 1002 that can be compressed and held in place within standportion 1004 of the stand. The surrounded flower portion 102 of theflower doll may then be placed within the substantially circular portionof wire frame 1002 and held in a substantially upright position on thesurface of the table or other supporting structure, for example.

The plurality of petals 114 and the plurality of leaves 116 of theflower portion 112 may be composed of plush material, fabric, plastic orany other suitable material. Each of the plurality of petals 114 may bemade of the same color material, and in other examples, each of theplurality of petals 114 may be made of a different color material. Thematerial used to manufacture the plurality of leaves 116 may be green incolor, and the material used to manufacture the petals may be anothercolor suitable for representing a particular flower. In someimplementations, the material used to manufacture the leaves 116 may bedifferent from the material used to manufacture the petals 114. In someimplementations, the skirt portion 110(a) of the dress 110 may comprisea plurality of layers of fabric. In these implementations, each layer ofthe skirt portion 110(a) may be a different type of fabric and/ordifferent color fabric. The plurality of petals 114 may include areinforcing material that can allow the user to adjust the shape of eachof the plurality of petals 114. For example, each of a plurality ofpetals 114 may include a wire or any other suitable material.

A number of implementations and alternatives have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A flower doll comprising: a body comprising a doll portion and aflower portion opposite the doll portion, the doll portion comprisingtwo arms and a head, the flower portion comprising a plurality ofpetals; a reinforcing wire disposed within the body and running along aportion of a torso of the body and along a length of each of the arms;and a sleeve coupled to the body between the doll portion and the flowerportion, wherein the sleeve can be configured to substantially cover andsurround the doll portion of the flower doll.
 2. The flower doll ofclaim 1 wherein the plurality of petals of the flower have varyingsizes.
 3. The flower doll of claim 1 wherein the flower portion isconfigured to support the doll portion in a substantially uprightposition on a flat surface.
 4. The flower doll of claim 1 wherein astand is configured to support the flower portion in a substantiallyupright position on a flat surface.
 5. The flower doll of claim 1wherein the flower portion has a first end and a second end and aplurality of petals is disposed between the first end and the secondend.
 6. The flower doll of claim 5 wherein the size of the plurality ofpetals increases from the first end to the second end.
 7. The flowerdoll of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises an elastic sleeve that isstretchable to cover substantially all of the doll portion of the flowerdoll.
 8. The flower doll of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing wire iscross shaped.
 9. The flower doll of claim 8 wherein the cross shape isformed by wrapping a first length and a second length of the reinforcingwire around each other.
 10. The flower doll of claim 8 wherein the crossshape is formed when a first length is snapped into a recess at themidpoint of a second length.
 11. The flower doll of claim 1 wherein theflower portion is composed of plastic.
 12. The flower doll of claim 1wherein the flower portion is composed of plush material.
 13. The flowerdoll of claim 1 wherein the flower portion is composed of felt fabric.14. The flower doll of claim 1 wherein the doll portion is composed ofplastic.
 15. The flower doll of claim 1 wherein the doll portion iscomposed of plush material.
 16. A flower doll comprising: a doll portioncomprising two arms, a head, and a first end opposite the head; a flowerportion comprising a first end with a plurality of flowers and a secondend opposite the first end; wherein the first end of the doll portion isremovably coupled to the second end of the flower portion, a sleevecoupled to the first end of the doll portion, wherein the sleeve can beconfigured to substantially cover and surround the doll portion of theflower doll.
 17. The flower doll of claim 16 wherein the first end ofthe doll portion is removably coupled to the second end of the flowerportion by a snap-fit type connector.
 18. The flower doll of claim 16wherein the first end of the doll portion is removably coupled to thesecond end of the flower portion by a screw type connector.
 19. Theflower doll of claim 16 wherein the first end of the doll portion isremovably coupled to the second end of the flower portion by a ball andsocket connector.